He has been moved to Ashworth, near Maghull, after being judged to be mentally ill following a psychological assessment.

Cregan has been sent to Ashworth, where Moors Murderer Ian Brady is detained, several times since he was jailed two years ago.

It is now being reported that the latest move could be permanent.

Ashworth Secure Hospital in Maghull, Liverpool

A source said: “Cregan has been going back and forth from prison to here for several months. Following a thorough psychiatric examination it has been decided that he should be kept here for the foreseeable. He will only be moved back if the psychological assessment changes.”

Cregan was on the run after murdering father and son David and Mark Short in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, when he lured the police officers to their deaths.

Fiona, 32, and Nicola, 23, were called to a house in Tameside, before Cregan murdered them by shooting them and using hand grenades.

Ashworth is one of the three most secure hospitals in Britain.

Police killer Dale Cregan faces spending the rest of his life in high-security Ashworth hospital.

A friend of Cregan, who remains close to the murderer’s family, added: “Dale has been at Ashworth before

“He had his problems there, he wasn’t allowed to smoke because it is a hospital and he was uneasy with some of the people he was with.

“But in jail he was in constant segregation and he was having problems with the screws.

“He thought he would be back in general population but that wasn’t happening. He knows he isn’t coming out now, at least at Ashworth the visiting is easier even if his family have to travel from Manchester over to Merseyside.”